The Rule of St. Benedict“Although the life of a monk ought to…”
Chapter 49: On the Observance of Lent
“Although the life of a monk ought to have about it at all times the character of a Lenten observance, yet since few have the virtue for that, we therefore urge that during the actual days of Lent the brethren keep their lives most pure and at the same time wash away during these holy days all the negligence of other times. And this will be worthily done if we restrain ourselves from all vices and give ourselves up to prayer with tears, to reading, to compunction of heart and to abstinence.
During these days, therefore, let us increase somewhat the usual burden of our service, as by private prayers and by abstinence in food and drink. Thus, every one of his own will may offer God “with joy of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thess. 1:6) something above the measure required of him. From his body, that is he may withhold some food, drink, sleep, talking and jesting; and with the joy of spiritual desire, he may look forward to holy Easter.
Let each one, however, suggest to his Abbot what it is that he wants to offer, and let it be done with his blessing and approval. For anything done without the permission of the spiritual father will be imputed to presumption and vainglory and will merit no reward. Therefore, let everything be done with the Abbot’s approval.”
Chapter 48: On the Daily Manual Labor
“On the days of Lent, from morning until the end of the third hour let them apply themselves to their reading, and from then until the end of the tenth hour let them do the work assigned them. And in these days of Lent they shall each receive a book from the library, which they shall read straight through from the beginning. These books are to be given out at the beginning of Lent.”
DISTRIBUTION OF LENTEN BOOKS
Hunger, bread. Violence, care. Self-centered absorption, self-gift in joy. All these things meet us in Lent and walk with us along the road to Easter. For our spiritual hunger, we have a rich table set before us in the liturgy and in our Lenten Reading. For our temptations to think less of ourselves than God does, his mercy is there to hold us tenderly in care, lest we dash our foot against whatever stone keeps us from yielding to the healing waters of his mercy. In quiet, surrendered prayer, our self-centered absorption is transformed into the joy of self-gift. It is a journey of lack into fullness, neglect into gentle care, spiritual blindness into receiving the light. It is what we have come to know as Lent, a most special time to cast ourselves onto the Heart of God in the abandon of a child who knows she/he is loved and cherished. A time of re-turning to the God loves us.
We will now receive our Lenten Reading books, our friends who will be there to whisper to us over and over again: One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. May the written word we are about to receive, help to open us to the Word Incarnate and may we all be filled with the utter fullness of God in the love He is when our Lenten journey ushers us into the new life of Easter.
